How to Do a Scie

nce Investigator
y Project

JANET BRIGIDA A. CATIPON

MAE-CHEMISTRY
MHS SCIENCE 9 TEACHER

How to Do a Scie
nce Investigator
y Project
Two Parts:

Employing the Scientific Method

Explaining and Presenting Your Project

Part 1 of 2
Employing the
Scientific Method

1. ASK AQUESTION.
Something

that interests, surprises, or

confuses you.
Something that can be investigated and
done.
Formulate a single question that sums up
you would like to examine.
The topic you select is manageable within
your time frame, budget, and skill level,
and that it doesn't break any rules for the
assignment / fair / competition.

2. RESEARCH YOUR
TOPIC.
Sources

will need to be unbiased,

timely and credible.
Sources that are supported by
scientific organization or journals are a
good bet.

3. FORM
HYPOTHESIS.
The

hypothesis is your working theory

or prediction, based on the question
you've asked and your subsequent
research. It needs to be accurate and
clear, but it doesn't need to be proven
correct in order for your SIP to be
successful (failed experiments are just as
important as successful ones in science).

3. FORM
HYPOTHESIS.
It

is often helpful to turn your

question
into
a
hypothesis
by
thinking in "if / then" terms. You may
want to frame your hypothesis (at
least initially) as "If [I do this], then
[this will happen]."

4. DESIGN YOUR
EXPERIMENT.
Know your variables, i.e., the
independent
and
dependent
variables.
Consider that materials you need
available (better if readily available
in your house), and affordable.

5. CONDUCT YOUR
EXPERIMENT.
Closely follow the steps that you have
planned to test your experiment.

Conduct your test at least three

times to ensure a scientifically-valid
result.

6. RECORD & ANALYZE

RESULTS.
May be best recorded as a graph,
chart, or just a journal entry
Make sure it is easy to review and
analyze.
Keep accurate records of all your
results.

6. MAKE YOUR
CONCLUSIONS.
Time to clearly and accurately state your
findings. In essence, you are now answering the
question you originally asked.

If

you
started
out
with
a
simple,
clear,
straightforward question, and a similar hypothesis, it
should be easier to craft your conclusion.
Remember,
concluding that your hypothesis was
completely wrong does not make your SIP a failure. If
you make clear, scientifically-grounded findings, and
present them well, it can and will be a success.

Part 2 of 2
Presenting and
Explaining your Project

1.

Know how your project will be

evaluated.

For a science fair, for example, the

judging could be based on the following
criteria (adding up to 100%).
Research paper (50%);
Oral presentation (30%);
Display poster (20%).

1.

Know how your project will be

evaluated.

For a science fair, the judging could be

based on the following criteria (adding up
to 100%).
Research paper (50%);
Oral presentation (30%);
Display poster (20%).

2. Create an Abstract (Summary of your SIP)

3. Write a Reseach Paper
1) Title Page;
2) Introduction (where you identify your topic and
hypothesis);
3) Materials & Methods (where you describe your
experiment);
4) Results & Discoveries (where you identify your findings);
5) Conclusion & Recommendations (where you "answer" your
hypothesis);
6) References (where you list your sources).
4.
5.

Prepare your Oral Presentation

Make a Visual Aid

WORDS TO LIVE BY...